California Assembly Republican Caucus
New York Times investigation shows how California’s repeal of anti-loitering law (SB 357) has made it harder for police to recover minors and crack down on traffickers.
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom and Senator Scott Wiener must be so proud of their 2022 “Safer Streets for All Act.”
Because nothing says safer streets like a rise in sex trafficking and minors being exploited.
Despite what the pompous politicians in Sacramento keep peddling from their ivory towers, real-world reports tell a very different story. That, SB 357 has made California’s streets less safe than ever.
Democrats can keep waving around their “studies” and talking to themselves in their echo chambers. But on the ground, where actual Californians live, the truth is undeniable.
Even New York Times Reporter Emily Baumgaertner Nunn, who rode along with undercover vice officers, saw firsthand how Newsom and Wiener’s brilliant idea has handcuffed law enforcement and emboldened traffickers:
“…when [SB 357] was implemented in January 2023, the effect was that uniformed officers could no longer apprehend groups of girls in lingerie on Figueroa, hoping to recover minors among them.”
“Now officers needed to be willing to swear they had reason to suspect each girl was underage — but with fake eyelashes and wigs, it was nearly impossible to tell.”
“One girl told vice officers that her trafficker had explained things succinctly: ‘We run Figueroa now,’ he said.”
“SB 357 was supposed to make streets safer,” said Assemblyman Heath Flora (R-Lodi). “Instead, this terrible law has turned Figueroa Street into a playground for traffickers. We need to repeal SB 357 and immediately restore law enforcement’s ability to rescue these girls and hold predators accountable.”
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